IB HL History PP1 – Comparing Hitler and Mussolini
1) Causes of Expansion
a. Impact of Fascism and Nazism on the foreign policies of Italy and Germany
b. Impact of domestic economic issues on the foreign policies of Italy and Germany
Italy Timeline: 1870-
c. Changing diplomatic alignments in Europe; the end of collective security; appeasement 1940
2) Events that took place – how they carried out their expansion (look at timelines) Germany Timeline:
a. German challenges to the post-war settlements 1918-1940
b. Italian expansion: Abyssinia (1935-1936); entry into WW2
c. German expansion (1938-1939); Pact of Steel, Nazi-Soviet Pact and the outbreak of war
3) International Responses to Aggression
a. International Responses to German aggression (1933-1939)
b. International Responses to Italian aggression (1935-1936)
c. International Response to German AND Italian aggression
1) Causes for Expansion
Causes Hitler’s Germany Mussolini’s Italy
Impact of Fascism and Nazism Nationalist-Socialism is the ideology of the Nazi Mussolini’s belief in fascism led him to think that
on the foreign policies of Italy Party. It was fervently nationalistic that called Italy must expand in order for it to be
and Germany: for sovereignty amongst all Germans. It is often considered ‘great’. This has links to his belief
seen as the German version of Fascism that Italy could be the second Roman Empire
*Fascism did not have a clear and the “heir of Rome”. This justifed his goals
founding doctrine. Mussolini once It believed that all German-speaking people of dominating the
said that Fascism is “action and should be reunited, as that was the ‘true Balkans/Mediterranean/territories in Africa, so
mood, not doctrine”! It manifested Germany’ that many believed in. that Italy could have its own SPHERE OF
itself in diferent countries (mostly - This was what encouraged territorial INFLUENCE!
in the Axis powers), as seen from expansion to include all German-speaking
Italy, Hitler’s Germany, and pre-war people into the Reich Fascism also leads to extreme nationalism for
Japan one’s country and nation. This helped him play a
The ideology was also militarist, which further part in consolidating his rule and supremacy
Features of Fascism: encouraged territorial expansion and the re- over the Italians (especially after the humiliation
- Extreme nationalism – creation of the European German empire. received at the TOV, the apparent weaknesses
overwhelming pride in one’s The ideology showed a belief in natural of the Socialist government, as well as the post-
nation enemies, which included that of Britain, France war economic crisis). It also justifes the
- Supremacy of the and Soviet Russia. establishment of an authoritarian government –
military/Extreme militarism – - They had to be prepared to go to war with the a style of government that would allow
violence seen as necessary in USSR as the USSR believed in an inferior Mussolini to consolidate domestic support for his
1
, IB HL History PP1 – Comparing Hitler and Mussolini
order to revitalise society: ideology – Communism. regime by gaining control over economic
Mussolini believed that Italy - This served as motivation to invade the USSR policies to meet the needs of the
should go to war every 25 eventually in WW2 people/revising the post-WW1 treaties – a way
year, hence the need for a - The Nazi-Soviet Pact (1939) was signed to of consolidating domestic support!
strong military give time for both sides to prepare for warfare
- Authoritarianist – people are - Britain and France were initially natural Mussolini’s methods became more assertive
subservient to the state enemies, as their ideologies opposed each after 1930s – focused glorifcation of war for its
- Social unity – opposes class other. However, after they had appeased him own sake, pursuit of imperial expansion, and a
struggle and had allowed him to gain back territory. move away from diplomacy and cooperation
- Fervently against leftist However, the ending of this appeasement (with (allied with Hitler and Japan). This was due to
tendencies the guarantees sent to Poland) increased economic failings of the 1930s!
- Against internationalism and German belligerence and a need to show that
pacifsm (belief that war and Germany was not as weak as before. B&F were Mussolini’s foreign policy was reactionary to the
violence are unjustifable and back to being natural enemies. world’s happenings/economic crises/political
that all dispute should be crises in Italy and did not follow an outline
resolved by peaceful means) Hitler operated and pursued Germany’s foreign unlike Hitler’s. There were no ‘clear goals’, as
- Expansionist policy in line with these beliefs. His foreign mentioned earlier on how fascism isn’t based on
policy goals were in concordance with his a set of doctrines. However, fascism played a
beliefs from start to fnish. role in determining the way in which he would
react to current crises. Even so, fascism still
served as one of the main driving forces behind
Italy’s expansion.
Impact of domestic economic issues Economic crises gave the Nazis a strategic Mussolini wanted Italy to be ‘self-sufcient’ and
on the foreign policies of Italy and reason to pursue an expansionary foreign practice ‘autarky’. He also promoted
Germany policy: “productivism” with the intent of increasing
- Germany had been through a series of productivity – heavy industry was favoured over
economic crises from post-WW1 until the consumer goods and there was high taxation to
1930s enable the development of that area.
- They were burdened with 6.6 million
pounds of reparations to repay back the Economic success impeded by the impact of
Allies under the TOV, and this process WW1 on the economy: Post-WW1 Economic
was disrupted with the Ruhr Crisis (1923) crisis
and the hyperinfation - High infation (hurt fxed-wage workers
- Economic success proved to be short- and middle class with savings)
lived as the Great Depression plunged - Unemployment at 2 million
Germany into a huge recession. - Economy built on heavy industry and
- It was clear to the Nazis that Germany armament – lack of consumer goods
2
1) Causes of Expansion
a. Impact of Fascism and Nazism on the foreign policies of Italy and Germany
b. Impact of domestic economic issues on the foreign policies of Italy and Germany
Italy Timeline: 1870-
c. Changing diplomatic alignments in Europe; the end of collective security; appeasement 1940
2) Events that took place – how they carried out their expansion (look at timelines) Germany Timeline:
a. German challenges to the post-war settlements 1918-1940
b. Italian expansion: Abyssinia (1935-1936); entry into WW2
c. German expansion (1938-1939); Pact of Steel, Nazi-Soviet Pact and the outbreak of war
3) International Responses to Aggression
a. International Responses to German aggression (1933-1939)
b. International Responses to Italian aggression (1935-1936)
c. International Response to German AND Italian aggression
1) Causes for Expansion
Causes Hitler’s Germany Mussolini’s Italy
Impact of Fascism and Nazism Nationalist-Socialism is the ideology of the Nazi Mussolini’s belief in fascism led him to think that
on the foreign policies of Italy Party. It was fervently nationalistic that called Italy must expand in order for it to be
and Germany: for sovereignty amongst all Germans. It is often considered ‘great’. This has links to his belief
seen as the German version of Fascism that Italy could be the second Roman Empire
*Fascism did not have a clear and the “heir of Rome”. This justifed his goals
founding doctrine. Mussolini once It believed that all German-speaking people of dominating the
said that Fascism is “action and should be reunited, as that was the ‘true Balkans/Mediterranean/territories in Africa, so
mood, not doctrine”! It manifested Germany’ that many believed in. that Italy could have its own SPHERE OF
itself in diferent countries (mostly - This was what encouraged territorial INFLUENCE!
in the Axis powers), as seen from expansion to include all German-speaking
Italy, Hitler’s Germany, and pre-war people into the Reich Fascism also leads to extreme nationalism for
Japan one’s country and nation. This helped him play a
The ideology was also militarist, which further part in consolidating his rule and supremacy
Features of Fascism: encouraged territorial expansion and the re- over the Italians (especially after the humiliation
- Extreme nationalism – creation of the European German empire. received at the TOV, the apparent weaknesses
overwhelming pride in one’s The ideology showed a belief in natural of the Socialist government, as well as the post-
nation enemies, which included that of Britain, France war economic crisis). It also justifes the
- Supremacy of the and Soviet Russia. establishment of an authoritarian government –
military/Extreme militarism – - They had to be prepared to go to war with the a style of government that would allow
violence seen as necessary in USSR as the USSR believed in an inferior Mussolini to consolidate domestic support for his
1
, IB HL History PP1 – Comparing Hitler and Mussolini
order to revitalise society: ideology – Communism. regime by gaining control over economic
Mussolini believed that Italy - This served as motivation to invade the USSR policies to meet the needs of the
should go to war every 25 eventually in WW2 people/revising the post-WW1 treaties – a way
year, hence the need for a - The Nazi-Soviet Pact (1939) was signed to of consolidating domestic support!
strong military give time for both sides to prepare for warfare
- Authoritarianist – people are - Britain and France were initially natural Mussolini’s methods became more assertive
subservient to the state enemies, as their ideologies opposed each after 1930s – focused glorifcation of war for its
- Social unity – opposes class other. However, after they had appeased him own sake, pursuit of imperial expansion, and a
struggle and had allowed him to gain back territory. move away from diplomacy and cooperation
- Fervently against leftist However, the ending of this appeasement (with (allied with Hitler and Japan). This was due to
tendencies the guarantees sent to Poland) increased economic failings of the 1930s!
- Against internationalism and German belligerence and a need to show that
pacifsm (belief that war and Germany was not as weak as before. B&F were Mussolini’s foreign policy was reactionary to the
violence are unjustifable and back to being natural enemies. world’s happenings/economic crises/political
that all dispute should be crises in Italy and did not follow an outline
resolved by peaceful means) Hitler operated and pursued Germany’s foreign unlike Hitler’s. There were no ‘clear goals’, as
- Expansionist policy in line with these beliefs. His foreign mentioned earlier on how fascism isn’t based on
policy goals were in concordance with his a set of doctrines. However, fascism played a
beliefs from start to fnish. role in determining the way in which he would
react to current crises. Even so, fascism still
served as one of the main driving forces behind
Italy’s expansion.
Impact of domestic economic issues Economic crises gave the Nazis a strategic Mussolini wanted Italy to be ‘self-sufcient’ and
on the foreign policies of Italy and reason to pursue an expansionary foreign practice ‘autarky’. He also promoted
Germany policy: “productivism” with the intent of increasing
- Germany had been through a series of productivity – heavy industry was favoured over
economic crises from post-WW1 until the consumer goods and there was high taxation to
1930s enable the development of that area.
- They were burdened with 6.6 million
pounds of reparations to repay back the Economic success impeded by the impact of
Allies under the TOV, and this process WW1 on the economy: Post-WW1 Economic
was disrupted with the Ruhr Crisis (1923) crisis
and the hyperinfation - High infation (hurt fxed-wage workers
- Economic success proved to be short- and middle class with savings)
lived as the Great Depression plunged - Unemployment at 2 million
Germany into a huge recession. - Economy built on heavy industry and
- It was clear to the Nazis that Germany armament – lack of consumer goods
2
